Blog

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Hockey
Asaba, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) The Delta Government on Thursday said it would distribute 2,000 hockey sticks to some selected secondary schools in the state to promote the sport at the grassroots.
Mr Patrick Ukah, the state’s Commissioner for Information, said this in Asaba when he led his counterpart for Basic and Secondary Education on a visit to the State Sports Council.
Ukah said the hockey sticks would encourage more students to participate in the sport.
According to him, Delta is well known to be in a pole position in all spheres of national and international sports.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Chiedu Ebie, said that the hockey sticks would contribute immensely to the development of the sport.
He said that the gesture would also enable the ministry to devote more attention to school sports.
“We will do everything possible to revive school sports and ensure that it takes its pride of place in the state,’’ Ebie said.
The Chairman of the State Sports Commission, Chief Tonobok Okowa, however, commended the commissioners and assured that sports development, particularly in secondary schools, was one of their top priorities. (NAN)
MOA/ENN/WOJ
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(Editing by Edwin Nwachukwu / Wale Ojetimi)

Yola Residents laud release of 21 Chibok girls

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Chibok Girls
Yola, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) Some residents of Yola, Adamawa, have expressed delight at the release of 21 Chibok girls by their abductors.

The residents said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the development would boost government efforts to secure the release of the rest of the schoolgirls.

The state Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Malam Ahmad Sajoh, lauded the development and called for more action to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls and others abducted by the insurgents.

“I also want to advise on the need for more synergy among the security agencies.

“We are waiting for a more detailed report on the development to know the true position of things,” Sajoh said.

Hanatu Adamu, a market woman, who described the development as “exciting”, said she was happy for the girls’ parents and the people of Chibok.

“It is a sign that things will be better. May Almighty God help us to secure the release of the rest of the abducted girls,” Adamu said.

Sanusi Gambo, Janet Zira, Musa Buba and Lami Mohammed, students of Adamawa Polytechnic, also expressed joy at the development.

They described the development as “a big relief for all Nigerians and the world in view of the international dimension the Chibok girls issue has assumed’’.

“The world must now take Nigeria serious and support her as President Buhari requested, in securing the release of all those abducted as well as ending the insurgency,” the students said.

NAN reports that the Presidency on Thursday confirmed the release of the schoolgirls by their abductors.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media, announced the release on his twitter handle.

Shehu said the released girls were in the custody of the Department of Security Services (DSS).

He said the Director-General of DSS, Malam Lawal Daura, had briefed Buhari on the development. (NAN)
YMU/AMY

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-HG-6
Handwashing
Dutse, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) The World Health Organisation (WHO) has selected Kafinhausa Local Government Area of Jigawa for the flag-off of the 2016 Global Handwashing Day in the state.

The council’s Information Officer, Malam Fahad Muhammad, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Dutse.

According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Global Handwashing Day takes place on every Oct. 15 to raise awareness of handwashing with soap as a key approach to disease prevention.

“It is a campaign to motivate and mobilise people around the world to improve their handwashing habits.

“The campaign was initiated to reduce childhood mortality rates, related respiratory and diarrheal diseases by introducing simple behavioral changes, such as handwashing with soap.

“This simple, accessible action can, according to research, reduce the rate of mortality from these diseases by almost 25 and 50 per cent, respectively.’’

Muhammad said that the day was set aside by WHO to educate the public on the importance of washing hands before and after eating, and using the toilet.

The council’s spokesman, while commending the world health body for the gesture, said that selection of the local government would enable it to educate its citizenry on health-related issues.

Muhammad said that the local government would continue to support and partner the global organisation in the area of healthcare delivery. (NAN)
MNB/ORO/GOK
Editing by Razak Owolabi/Olagoke Olatoye)

NAN-H-58
Space
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Ndufu-Alike (Ebonyi), Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) The National Centre for Remote Sensing (NCRS), Jos, is to inaugurate an Advanced Space Technology Application Laboratory (ASTAL) at the Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo,  in Ebonyi.

The Director General of  NCRS, Dr Effron Gajere, who disclosed this at the university, noted that the centre would serve the South East Zone.

Gajere said he was in the institution to ascertain its readiness for the commencement of the project.

“The NCRS is saddled with the responsibility of providing remote sensing in Nigeria and in 2011.

“ Such centre was established at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom, to serve the South-South Zone.

“The laboratory, when completed in FUNAI, will serve the tertiary institutions and relevant government agencies in the South East Zone.

“Researchers and students in physical sciences will be the major beneficiaries as it would also generate data to solve the zone’s environmental challenges.

“These challenges include urban, disaster and flood management, as I enjoin the university management to expedite action in providing a temporary office for our staff, “he said.

He also enjoined the institution’s management to allot a land where the laboratory would be built to achieve the intended aim.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, thanked the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology for choosing the institution to inaugurate the project.

“We are open to other governmental agencies and private organisations for investment, partnership and collaboration in mutually benefiting and rewarding areas.

“We would immediately make efforts toward providing the necessary logistics for the commencement of the project as we would strictly adhere to our culture of excellence.

“I appeal to the NCRS DG to use his office to ensure that the laboratory building plan takes cognisance of Ebonyi’s tropical nature for its durability, ” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gajere was accompanied on the visit by the Director of Strategic Space Applications in the Nigeria Space Research and Development Agency, Dr Halilu Ahmad. (NAN)
RCO/KOLE/OJO
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(Edited by Remi Koleoso and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-24
Cynthia
By Chinyere Omeire
Lagos, Oct.  13, 2016 (NAN) An Igbosere High Court sitting on Lagos Island has foreclosed the right of a defendant, Olisaeloka Ezike, to file his final written address in the trial of the four men, who allegedly murdered Cynthia Osokogu in Lagos after being lured by a facebook lover.

‎The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osokogu was allegedly murdered on July 22, 2012 at Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate, Festac Town, Lagos, by her facebook lover.

Ezike, the second defendant, is standing trial alongside Okwumo Nwabufo, 33; Olisaeloka Ezike, 23; Orji Osita, 33, and Ezike Nonso, 25, over the murder.

They are facing trial on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, stealing, reckless negligence and possession of stolen goods.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Justice Olabisi Akinlade, ordered the Prosecutor, Mrs Bola Akinshete, a Lagos State Senior Counsel, to file her reply to the final written addresses of all the defendants.

The judge gave this order following the delay by the ‎second defendant’s counsel in filing his final written address, after several adjournments had been given by the judge to file the address.

Justice Akinlade said: “I am not going to wait indefinitely for the second defendant’s counsel to file his final written address.

“It is on record that the court has given the second defendant several opportunities to file his written address.

“Since the Defence closed its case, till now he has ‎been unable to file.

“It is obvious that the counsel is not ready to file his final written ‎address. I hereby foreclose his right to file the final written address.

“The prosecution should therefore file her reply to the final addresses’’.

However, the judge adjourned the case to Dec. 8 for adoption of the final written addresses.

Earlier, the prosecutor had urged the court to foreclose the right of the second defendant from filing his final written address to enable her to file her reply on the addresses.

“Since the last adjournment on June 8, despite the order of your lordship for the second defendant to file his final written address, he has refused to comply.

“I, therefore, urge Your Lordship to foreclose his right to filing ‎the address to enable us make progress in this case,’’ Akinshete said.

NAN recalls Akinlade had at the last adjournment on June 8 expressed displeasure over the delay of the second Defence counsel in filing his final written address.

Akinlade, however, threatened to award a substantial cost to the second defendant over his failure to do so.

According to the judge, the Defence counsel was delaying the case which was of interest to the public.

She said people always had the notion that it was the court that was using delay tactics to prolong the case without knowing that it was caused by the defendant’s counsel.

The prosecutor said the 25-year-old Osokogu, who was resident in Abuja, was lured to Lagos before she was killed.

The offences violated Sections 221, 249, 285 and 327 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. (NAN)
OCC/ENN/DA
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Controlled by Dele Akinsola & edited by Edwin Nwachukwu

Make hand washing a habit, FG tells Nigerians

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Hand washing
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) The Minster of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, has called on Nigerians to develop the culture of hand washing to reduce spread of water borne diseases.

Adamu made the call in Abuja on Thursday as part of activities to commemorate the 2016 Global Hand Washing Day, with the theme, `Make Hand Washing a Habit’, slated for October 15.

He said hand washing with soap represented a cornerstone of public health, saying it could be considered an affordable, accessible `do-it-yourself’ vaccine for sanitation and hygiene.

He said the theme, was in line with the soon to be unveiled Partnership for Extended Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) Programme, which aims at encouraging all stakeholders to make access to water and sanitation a priority.

He said globally, 1.7 million children reportedly died from diarrhoea and pneumonia annually, saying a good hand washing habit could significantly prevent these deaths.

He said cultivating a good hand washing habit would help keep children in schools, saying that 242 million school days were missed due to diarrhoea alone.

“Hand washing is a choice that everyone can make multiple times a day, when we choose hand washing; we are choosing to create a healthier environment not only for ourselves, but also for those around us.

“Good hygiene practices must be a habit which requires choosing to perform them on a regular basis, we should choose hand washing not only on Global hand washing day, but every day,” he said.

He said the ministry, in partnership with development partners, has trained hygiene education teachers, youth corps members and other stakeholders in the six area councils of the FCT on hygiene promotion.

Adamu said the ministry would also carry out group hand washing demonstration in schools to encourage children to be change agents to pass the message of behavioural change.

Mr Emmanuel Awe, Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation, said the day was an opportunity to engage children as change agents in reducing spread of preventable diseases.

He stressed the need to sensitise and advocate for more awareness from all stakeholders towards promoting hygiene messages.

Mr Kanan Nadar, UNICEF Chief of WASH, said the agency has carried out group hand washing demonstration with the use of tippy taps in 15 schools in Chikun Local Government of Kaduna.

He said part of activities to commemorate the day was to carry hygiene messages to 1,800 schools nationwide, and also demonstrate proper means of hand washing through the use of tippy taps.

Nadar called on the three tiers of government to increase budgetary allocations for scaling up access to WASH in the country.

Mr Micheal Ojo, Country Director, WaterAid Nigeria, called for behavioural change, saying Nigerians need to know why hand washing is important.

He said there was the need for hand washing facilities to be made available in all hospitals, saying Nigerians would live healthier and better. (NAN)
TAK/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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NAN-H-40
Pickpocket
By Teniola Ibitola
Lagos, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) “The accused is guilty as charged, and sentenced to 100 hours of community service,’’ said Magistrate Tolu Idowu to punish a pickpocket, who admitted guilt before her.

Chogozie Ozokwere, 28, had appeared on a count charge of stealing before Idowu of the Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The prosecutor, Insp. Chinalu Uwadione, said that Ozokwere picked four handsets from pockets of pedestrians at Oyingbo Bus Stop in Ebute Meta, on Oct. 13 at about 9:30a.m.

He submitted that the handsets worth N20,000.

“The accused had been lynched and beaten to a pulp when he was caught before being handed over to the police and brought before the court,”  Uwadione said.

He noted that pickpocketing contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section states that any person who steals any property is guilty of a felony, and liable, if no other punishment is provided, to imprisonment for three years (NAN)
OAT/IGO

(Edited and controlled by Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-H-55

Malpractices

By Ajayi Toba

Ilorin, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) Mr Musbau Abdulkareem, a lecturer at the Department of Political Science, College of Education, Oro, Kwara State, has said that examination malpractice might weaken students’ reading culture.

Abdulkareem, who made this assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Ilorin, on Thursday, posited that examination malpractice negatively affected students’ zeal to read.

He said that students would no longer study hard, having relied on cheating in the examination hall.

According to him, students prefer to hang out on the eve of the examination to discuss how to perpetuate exams malpractices instead of reading their books.

The lecturer described the habit as bad, saying that students were only interested in their success in the examinations and not to widen their knowledge.

“Students become lazy towards reading everyday, as they rely more on examination malpractice, unlike in the  olden days, when students were always busy and inquisitive to learn.

“Reading is no more in vogue among students. They see reading as a waste of time and energy, as they now rely solely on malpractice during examination.

“I wonder why students are only interested in the degree and not how to acquire knowledge.

“Some parents even go to the extent of registering their children in what they refer to as miracle centres,” he said.

He, however, advised education administrators in the country to ensure a more effective implementation of examination malpractices law to curb the menace

Abdulkareem also called on parents, teachers, proprietors and examiners to desist from encouraging exam malpractice in order to revive the dying reading culture among students. (NAN)
LEX/AAB/YEMI
Edited By Adeboye Ajayi

Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju

NAN-H-54
Pardon
By Mohammad Adam
Yola, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) Adamawa Chief Judge, Justice Ishaya Banu, on Thursday released 85 awaiting trial inmates in Jimeta Prison in Yola.

Banu, who released the suspects during a jail delivery at the prison, also granted conditional bail to 33 others.

The chief judge said that the measure was part of efforts to decongest prisons across the state, adding that the open sitting would  continue in Jada and Numan prisons on Saturday, Oct. 15.

He lauded the Jimeta prison authorities for the support and cooperation, and tasked released inmates to be of good behaviour.

“You need to keep off things that will bring you back to prison, be law abiding,’’ Banu said.

Also, the Assistant Controller in-Charge of Jimeta prison, Mr E.B Bakari, lauded the committee for its commitment to decongest prisons in the state, and assured the Chief judge and members of his committee of Prison Service support in that direction.

One of the released inmates, Abdulmajid Peter, who spoke on behalf of others, thanked the chief judge and prison authorities for the gesture, and promised that they would strive to be responsible members of the society.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that among those released were four minors. (NAN)
AMA/YMU/OFN
Edited by Adeboye Ajayi//Felix Nwadioha

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Union
By Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Oct.13, 2016 (NAN) The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) on Thursday lauded the Federal Government’s decision to sack and demote 22 top officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Mr Olayinka Abioye, the NUATE General Secretary, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the restructuring should be extended to other aviation agencies.

NAN reports that as part of the Federal Government’s plan to restructure the aviation sector, some general managers and deputy general managers of parastatals in the sector were demoted.

Some managers formerly placed on Level 17 were in a letter issued by the Federal Ministry of Transport demoted to Level 10 and redeployed to other departments in the same organisation.

The restructuring followed the recommendations of the Presidential Committee chaired by Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

Abioye said, “We have written several letters to the government about it, and it was part of our demands.

“We want it to be carried out in all the aviation parastatal agencies.

“We also believe that there should be less interference in the running of these agencies.

“The exercise that was carried out in FAAN on Wednesday ought not to have happened in the first instance, if we have done our work properly.

“What usually happens is that political patronage took precedence over public service rules and regulations.

“You can imagine a young graduate of 10 years, who was appointed a general manager, which will take a career public servant 26 years to get to.”

According to him, these agencies should be allowed to work within the purview of the acts that established them for the betterment of the industry, and the country in general.

Abioye also called for a stakeholders’ meeting where each of the parastatals would put forward the challenges limiting them from engaging in quality service delivery.

NAN reports that some FAAN workers were seen on Thursday at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, headquarters of the agency, discussing the development in hushed tones. (NAN)
ASO/GOK
(Editing by Olagoke Olatoye)